Obradovich: David Young differs from rest of GOP by a subtle shade

Jun. 20, 2013

David Young

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U.S. Senate candidate David Young says he doesn’t fit neatly into any of the political factions that have come to characterize the Republican Party in Iowa.

“Over the years, I’ve made great friends in all kind of factions of the party ... and I don’t see myself really fitting into any one group,” Young said. “I see myself as a mainstream conservative, and I will let folks endorse me rather than me go out and kowtow to one particular group.”

He describes himself as “a man of faith — I love the Lord, I love the Constitution and civil liberties, and I love fighting for folks to keep more of their hard-earned paycheck.”

That’s a lot of love, but it’s nothing different than you’ll hear from any other GOP candidates who will be on the ballot in the June 2014 primary. The differences come in subtle shades of detail and priority.

Young, 45, of Van Meter recently resigned after seven years as U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley’s chief of staff. Grassley’s easily the most popular politician in Iowa, so that’s not a bad starting point for someone who’s never before run for office. It’s no surprise that Young’s approach to politics is similar.

Tax and budget issues are his top priorities. He emphasized the need for a balanced budget amendment and getting the economy on track, especially through tax reform.

Young’s strongest appeal is likely to be to pro-business fiscal conservatives, as long as he can demonstrate he is a viable candidate. He’ll have to raise a credible amount of money, and quickly, which he should be able to do if his reputation is justified. His challenge there is likely to be competition from state Sen. Joni Ernst if she runs.

Gov. Terry Branstad hasn’t officially endorsed Ernst, but he’s spoken so warmly and frequently about her that she’s starting to be seen as his pick.

Like Grassley, Young says he’s pro-life and pro-traditional marriage. He grew up as a Methodist and says he particularly engaged with his faith during a church camp at age 15. But also like Grassley, Young doesn’t make his religious social values his primary reason for seeking office.

“I don’t wear it on my sleeve. It’s in my heart, and I just try to, though my actions and my words, live the life,” he said.

That will be enough for some religious conservatives, who are often willing to vote for viable fiscal conservatives for whom values issues are secondary. It likely won’t win over those who are looking for a religious warrior.

Young’s association with Grassley, and the fact that Young has spent most of his adult life in Washington, are not assets in winning over grass-roots Republicans, be they tea party or libertarian. Young emphasizes that his work for Grassley put him in close contact with Iowans, listening to their concerns and solving their problems. That won’t save him from being lambasted by opponents as a Beltway insider.

Young offers some policy differences with Grassley, but nothing that provides a major contrast. For example, he says he would have opposed the 1986 immigration bill that Grassley now says he regrets supporting. Similarly, Young says he would have voted against the Troubled Asset Relief Program and bailed out of the Gang of Six negotiations on Obamacare more quickly than Grassley did.

However, Young also says he would emulate Grassley’s work as a government watchdog. “Government’s out of control. It’s time for an intervention,” he said Tuesday.

That’s probably his best appeal to grass-roots Republicans: That he would use his insider status and experience to fight government wrongdoing and power-mongering. Young will have competition for these voters from Sioux City radio host Sam Clovis and former U.S. Attorney Matt Whitaker.

The good news for Young is that Grassley’s reputation and record on government oversight is probably one of the biggest reasons for his popularity among independent voters in general elections. Young’s effort to avoid identifying with a particular GOP faction also could help in November 2014 — if he can make it past the primary.